EDWARD KORBER, PhD
Edward Korber works as a licensed clinical neuropsychologist in New York. For the past half century he has provided clinical care, primarily through public service hospital settings, to members of underserved populations. He is an advocate of life long learning and has earned a number of post graduate certifications in behavior analysis, psycho-pharmacology, and substance abuse treatment. He has also continued to serve in a number of leadership positions committees of the American Psychological Association and NYS Psychological Association.
Perhaps more importantly for the last forty years Ed has also worked collaboratively, along with the other self taught artists and volunteers, at the Living Museum located on the grounds of Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens County. His current mantra…
“ there is an artist in each of us who is aware of three basic truths:
Nothing is perfect
Nothing is finished
Nothing lasts forever
But accepting this we can also come to learn, to appreciate the beauty in our imperfect world and lives that surround and embrace us.”
Life Flow Code: Guerilla art sticker #2
(Adhesive Stickers, 8” x 11”, ink on paper)
"IT IS SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO PAINT A PARTICULAR PICTURE, OR TO CARVE A STATUE, AND SO MAKE A FEW OBJECTS BEAUTIFUL; BUT IT IS FAR MORE GLORIOUS TO CARVE AND PAINT THE VERY ATMOSPHERE AND MEDIUM THROUGH WHICH WE LOOK. TO AFFECT THE
QUALITY OF THE DAY-THAT IS THE HIGHEST OF ARTS."
-HENRY DAVID THOREAU
The conceptual artist Keri Smith once suggested modern culture, with its overwhelming advertising, mass media, and communication, often teaches us to tune out, too disconnect. In many cases we seem to have no choice about the quality or quantity of what we are exposed too and there is a limit to how much we can process on any given day. In many such environments it may become necessary to form a more direct connection with the landscape, with aspects of our natural world, or with a greater community and ideas. Creating art is one way to foster that connection.
Adding to our landscape can help us become an active participant in how we might operate and become a partial creator of our milieu’s complex flow. Guerrilla Art can take us out of our known world and present an unexpected or daring alternative that, sometimes, can make us consider thinking about our current position in life’s “stream of behavior”a little differently and to contemplate, in the moment, something outside the numbing predictable by presenting an alternative point of view of our world. In recreating a space or moment in life that otherwise maybe be felt soulless or without facilitating character a new life or “direction of current” in life small or brief exposure can help the participant question what is acceptable… challenging what is constructively allowed within the specific context of their current stream of behavior… seeding ideas and thoughts, expressions of emotion… opening new connecting currents for the enhancement of their life choices in the current temporary and transitory state they have reached. I am reminded of the Toni Morrison quote:
"The function of freedom is to free someone else."
And I feel that each of this gallery's participants pass on that form of courage to others who encounter their efforts… creating a better life through their use of art... as did the message within this art come to impact my life as a very young boy.